Here is an image I have put together involving the sculpture of cactii I made using the mud collected at Withens Clough “beach”. I then used photoshop to place the sculpture back into its natural environment.

I have tried to strike a balance of weird, out of place, but with an element of  commonality. The cactii, as I have previuosly said, represents another different kind of landscape that nevertheless has similarities- both are hard , gritty , full of character. You won’t find these landscapes in Constable paintings , I’m thinking more of Turner  as I scrabble around in the driving rain! The arid desert contrasts here with the reservoir water in the background, but what drew me to this site was the fact that the water level is so low. This part of the reservoir is not normally so exposed & visible- a lack of rain? an overly high consumption of water? When I discovered this place it seemed, if you had your back to the water, like a desert, it was a strange land.

I have a slight concern that the cactii look anthropomorphic- this is not my intention- they are not meant to be “waving” anything! There is humour in the piece but this should result from its strangeness.

comments welcomed?